HOOVER, Ala. — Gary Henderson didn’t worry about starting Konnor Pilkington on short rest.
The Mississippi State interim coach watched his ace left-hander after he threw 100 pitches Thursday against No. 1 Florida. He was looking for the slightest indication something was off.
But Pilkington has started on short rest and was ready for the opportunity against No. 8 seed LSU in the opening round of the Southeastern Conference tournament.
Pilkington allowed four hits and two runs in 4 2/3 innings (69 pitches) and received a no-decision in the No. 9 seed MSU baseball team’s 8-5 loss to LSU on Tuesday at Hoover Metropolitan Stadium.
“I felt really good,” Pilkington said. “Today is usually my bullpen day, but I did a few things differently to get ready for this start, treated it like no other. I knew it wasn’t going to be long.”
Pilkington retired the first six batters he faced and 10 of the first 11. LSU (34-23) didn’t get a runner in scoring position on Pilkington until the fifth.
“He was throwing all three pitches, throwing strikes and making us compete, and that’s always tough when he can throw all three pitches,” LSU right fielder Antoine Duplantis said. “You don’t know what to expect up there.”
MSU interim coach Gary Henderson said the only thing different from Pilkington’s routine leading up to the game was he didn’t have a regular bullpen.
“I thought there was a peace of mind, some balance, some ease to his delivery,” Henderson said. “I thought overall a very positive outing for him and gave him a very positive frame of mind for the next time he goes out.”
Westburg update
MSU’s third-base rotation with freshmen Jordan Westburg and Justin Foscue remains unsettled.
Westburg injured his hamstring last weekend against Florida, which paved the way for Foscue to start the final game of that series and Tuesday against LSU. Foscue has two hits and has driven in those two games.
Westburg’s return remains undetermined.
“Jordan Westburg has a pulled hamstring. He’s had several days now and made some progress,” Henderson said. “He’s working hard and hopefully will be available the next time we have a game. The time (off before the NCAA tournament) for Jordan will be great.”
Skelton starts
For the first time in four starts, Pilkington threw to sophomore catcher Dustin Skelton.
Marshall Gilbert had earned increased playing time by raising his batting average from .224 to .295 from April 20 to May 4, but an 0-for-6 weekend against Florida lowered his average to .255. Skelton went 1-for-4 with a run scored in a 13-6 victory against No. 1 Florida on Saturday, so Henderson went back to him for Tuesday and Skelton had two hits.
“I thought he was playing well and giving us some good at-bats, had a good batting practice,” Henderson said. “He played well last time out, and it proved to be a good decision.”
Tigers figure France out
One of the things that made MSU relief pitcher JP France (4-4) so attractive in the graduate transfer was his performances against LSU when he was with Tulane.
France didn’t face LSU in his final season at Tulane, but in 2016 he started against the Tigers twice and went 13 1/3 innings and allowed 10 hits, four walks and one run. He struck out seven.
While successful as a Bulldog, France allowed two hits and a run in 1 2/3 innings against LSU in March. On Tuesday, LSU had four hits and scored three runs against France in 1 1/3 innings.
Tigers go to ace
Many of the experts who cover college baseball believed LSU needed a win Tuesday to solidify its position in the NCAA tournament field.
While coach Paul Mainieri opted not to speculate on his team’s postseason chances, he used his pitchers as if the season was on the line.
LSU turned to Zack Hess, its usual Friday night starter, in the fourth inning. Hess walked four and allowed a sacrifice fly in his first inning, but he settled in to throw three innings and gave up three hits and two runs.
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